Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $82,570
- Median hourly wage: $39.70
- Total employment: 240 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in San Jose for high school graduates
For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.
According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.
With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.
Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in San Jose for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in San Jose
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $82,990
- Median hourly wage: $39.90
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
3 / 50#47. Tax preparers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $83,600
- Median hourly wage: $40.19
- Total employment: 770 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Property, real estate, and community association managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $83,600
- Median hourly wage: $40.19
- Total employment: 2,580 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $85,290
- Median hourly wage: $41.00
- Total employment: 440 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in San Jose
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $86,190
- Median hourly wage: $41.44
- Total employment: 200 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $88,220
- Median hourly wage: $42.41
- Total employment: Not available
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $88,490
- Median hourly wage: $42.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $88,990
- Median hourly wage: $42.79
- Total employment: 2,700 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $90,220
- Median hourly wage: $43.37
- Total employment: 2,230 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the San Jose area by diners
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Median annual wage: $91,280
- Median hourly wage: $43.88
- Total employment: 480 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $92,590
- Median hourly wage: $44.52
- Total employment: 8,390 people (7.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $93,470
- Median hourly wage: $44.94
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $95,020
- Median hourly wage: $45.69
- Total employment: 5,540 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $95,060
- Median hourly wage: $45.70
- Total employment: 1,180 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in San Jose
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $95,150
- Median hourly wage: $45.74
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $95,260
- Median hourly wage: $45.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $95,330
- Median hourly wage: $45.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $95,530
- Median hourly wage: $45.93
- Total employment: 380 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $95,990
- Median hourly wage: $46.15
- Total employment: 990 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in San Jose by diners
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $97,030
- Median hourly wage: $46.65
- Total employment: 450 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
mariakray // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $97,860
- Median hourly wage: $47.05
- Total employment: Not available
BearFotos // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $98,090
- Median hourly wage: $47.16
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $99,690
- Median hourly wage: $47.93
- Total employment: 6,660 people (5.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photostriker // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $100,110
- Median hourly wage: $48.13
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in San Jose
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $104,010
- Median hourly wage: $50.01
- Total employment: 6,110 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $104,020
- Median hourly wage: $50.01
- Total employment: 2,290 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $104,100
- Median hourly wage: $50.05
- Total employment: 12,490 people (11.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $104,920
- Median hourly wage: $50.44
- Total employment: 500 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $105,520
- Median hourly wage: $50.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the San Jose area by diners
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $106,130
- Median hourly wage: $51.02
- Total employment: 990 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $106,440
- Median hourly wage: $51.17
- Total employment: 400 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $110,660
- Median hourly wage: $53.20
- Total employment: 210 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $110,700
- Median hourly wage: $53.22
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $112,900
- Median hourly wage: $54.28
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated delis in San Jose by diners
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $115,500
- Median hourly wage: $55.53
- Total employment: 1,350 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $115,970
- Median hourly wage: $55.76
- Total employment: 860 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $118,290
- Median hourly wage: $56.87
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $118,720
- Median hourly wage: $57.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $119,310
- Median hourly wage: $57.36
- Total employment: 330 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the San Jose area by diners
fizkes // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $125,310
- Median hourly wage: $60.25
- Total employment: 420 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $126,570
- Median hourly wage: $60.85
- Total employment: 4,290 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $129,160
- Median hourly wage: $62.10
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $131,210
- Median hourly wage: $63.08
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $131,640
- Median hourly wage: $63.29
- Total employment: 300 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Top 25 songs in San Jose on Shazam in the past week
pio3 // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $150,650
- Median hourly wage: $72.43
- Total employment: 2,520 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $156,890
- Median hourly wage: $75.43
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $164,180
- Median hourly wage: $78.93
- Total employment: 1,570 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $168,660
- Median hourly wage: $81.09
- Total employment: 340 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $169,560
- Median hourly wage: $81.52
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in San Jose
